Max Trammell is more like persnickety neatnik Felix Unger than he realized before he started rehearsals for “The Odd Couple.”

Laughing and perhaps a bit bewildered, he said he finds himself falling into the same meticulous postures and habits as the famed Felix.

When something falls on stage, for example, Trammell is the first to pick it up.

“I like things neat and synthetic,” said Trammell, a familiar face on local stages in recent years.

One of his first plays in Ocala was in the wild, cross-dressing musical “Rocky Horror Show,” where he played the not-so-prim-and-proper servant Riff Raff.

Then there's Anthony Palumbo.

He plays cigar-chomping, mustard-slinging slob Oscar Madsison.

He, too, laughs when noting his character in Ocala Civic Theatre's new comedy is not exactly a stretch.

“I am Oscar,” he said.

Palumbo's not really a slob, he'll tell you, but he is no stranger to clutter and messes. He's also easy-going and far from fussy. He knows the value of a comfy couch, savors cigars and adores his muscle car — a '74 Chevy Nova that “can pass anything except a gas station.”

“I'm definitely on cruise control on weekends,” Palumbo said.

Not so much this weekend, as the classic Neil Simon comedy opens Thursday for a 16-show run through April 13.

“The Odd Couple,” of course, is about two wildly mismatched roommates. It debuted on Broadway on 1965, was made into a movie in 1968 with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, and then found success as a sitcom in the 1970s with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.

In its 64 years, OCT has performed “The Odd Couple” more than five times, including one version with women as the leads.

This version brings Palumbo back to OCT after a 20-year absence; he used to be a regular performer in the 1980s in OCT's old building (now the Republican Headquarters next to Sonny's BBQ), and in the first years of the theater's current building further east on State Road 40.

Why a two-decade lapse?

“Life got in the way,” he said.

That is to say marriage, children, jobs — including his post as chief executive officer of Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast.

He said he recently took a breath and considered “What do I like to do?” It was theater. And when he saw his longtime pal and former castmate Chip Morris was directing, he was en route to auditions and ready for his “personal homecoming.”

Morris, known for his over-the-top characters and spot-on comic timing, has remained one of OCT's best-known actors. He has directed at least five shows for OCT, and many more for troupes and groups throughout Marion County. He also played Oscar in “The Odd Couple” once for a dinner theater production at the College of Central Florida.

He knows this show well, and contends the best way to approach such a familiar — and produced and reproduced — comedy is to stick to the script.

“Neil Simon's writing is timeless,” Morris said, noting earlier versions that have tried to freshen it up with tweaks and twists. “Quite frankly, it's time to do the classic version. The play on its own is very funny. Basically, you have a bromance gone bad.”

Morris is thrilled with his cast, noting Palumbo makes a great slob and Trammell “is just beautifully neurotic.”

Asked if he favors one character over the other, Morris said no; the show works because Oscar and Felix complement each other so well. But asked what character he relates to the most, Morris was clear: Oscar.

<p>Call it accidental typecasting. </p><p>Max Trammell is more like persnickety neatnik Felix Unger than he realized before he started rehearsals for “The Odd Couple.” </p><p>Laughing and perhaps a bit bewildered, he said he finds himself falling into the same meticulous postures and habits as the famed Felix.</p><p>When something falls on stage, for example, Trammell is the first to pick it up.</p><p>“I like things neat and synthetic,” said Trammell, a familiar face on local stages in recent years.</p><p>One of his first plays in Ocala was in the wild, cross-dressing musical “Rocky Horror Show,” where he played the not-so-prim-and-proper servant Riff Raff. </p><p>Then there's Anthony Palumbo.</p><p>He plays cigar-chomping, mustard-slinging slob Oscar Madsison.</p><p>He, too, laughs when noting his character in Ocala Civic Theatre's new comedy is not exactly a stretch.</p><p>“I am Oscar,” he said.</p><p>Palumbo's not really a slob, he'll tell you, but he is no stranger to clutter and messes. He's also easy-going and far from fussy. He knows the value of a comfy couch, savors cigars and adores his muscle car — a '74 Chevy Nova that “can pass anything except a gas station.”</p><p>“I'm definitely on cruise control on weekends,” Palumbo said. </p><p>Not so much this weekend, as the classic Neil Simon comedy opens Thursday for a 16-show run through April 13. </p><p>“The Odd Couple,” of course, is about two wildly mismatched roommates. It debuted on Broadway on 1965, was made into a movie in 1968 with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, and then found success as a sitcom in the 1970s with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. </p><p>In its 64 years, OCT has performed “The Odd Couple” more than five times, including one version with women as the leads.</p><p>This version brings Palumbo back to OCT after a 20-year absence; he used to be a regular performer in the 1980s in OCT's old building (now the Republican Headquarters next to Sonny's BBQ), and in the first years of the theater's current building further east on State Road 40. </p><p>Why a two-decade lapse?</p><p>“Life got in the way,” he said.</p><p>That is to say marriage, children, jobs — including his post as chief executive officer of Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast.</p><p>He said he recently took a breath and considered “What do I like to do?” It was theater. And when he saw his longtime pal and former castmate Chip Morris was directing, he was en route to auditions and ready for his “personal homecoming.”</p><p>Morris, known for his over-the-top characters and spot-on comic timing, has remained one of OCT's best-known actors. He has directed at least five shows for OCT, and many more for troupes and groups throughout Marion County. He also played Oscar in “The Odd Couple” once for a dinner theater production at the College of Central Florida.</p><p>He knows this show well, and contends the best way to approach such a familiar — and produced and reproduced — comedy is to stick to the script.</p><p>“Neil Simon's writing is timeless,” Morris said, noting earlier versions that have tried to freshen it up with tweaks and twists. “Quite frankly, it's time to do the classic version. The play on its own is very funny. Basically, you have a bromance gone bad.”</p><p>Morris is thrilled with his cast, noting Palumbo makes a great slob and Trammell “is just beautifully neurotic.”</p><p>Asked if he favors one character over the other, Morris said no; the show works because Oscar and Felix complement each other so well. But asked what character he relates to the most, Morris was clear: Oscar.</p><p>“I am a slob,” he answered without hesitation. “Definitely.”</p>